routing workshop
under
A
In our first issue of INProfile (Issue 1
Winter 1997 pages 22-25 ) we
featured a dedicated routing bench,
that could be easily made in the
workshop and that would form a
routing centre to support a wide
range of routing operations. In this
issue we suggest ways of
incorporating both inverted and
overhead routing facilities in the
same routing centre.
One of the many benefits afforded by
making your own routing bench, is
that it can be of a size to suit
both one’s own
requirements and
the available
floor
26
INProfile
over
John Perkins adds an additional feature,
in the form of an inverted router table,
to his dedicated routing bench.
by John Perkins
n inverted or overhead table
is one of the most important
accessories for the router,
offering far greater scope in handling
material, as well as giving the full
range of router cutters. It is also by
far easier and safer to carry out many
routing operations with the router
rigidly mounted and by feeding the
material into the cutter, against a
fence and on a flat table. Also, as the
table, cutter and fence will always
remain square to each other, accuracy
can be assured.
and
space.
Inverted routing
When making any routing jig or table
it is important to keep it simple, both
in its construction and its use. For
simplicity and reliability, it is worth
considering using proprietary
products such as those from the
Trend range of jig-making accessories.
These include mounting plates,
threaded inserts, lever handles and
knobs, and items from their
Routerack Range. A bonus is that
the Routerack universal stand set
offers many possibilities for mounting
the router over the bench.
Plates can be made from various
materials such as polycarbonate
sheet, aluminium or solid plastic.
Here the Trend CRT plate is set into
a thicker table plate to allow the
router to be lifted through the table.
Bench cut-out
Mounting the router
One of the main problems in
constructing any routing table is in
the method of attaching the router,
to both ensure that it is secure and
rigid and to minimise the loss in the
depth of cut due to the thickness of
the mounting plate.
Mounting plates
There are various methods of making
mounting plates, although it is often
better to buy ready drilled plates
such as the CRT insert
plate. This is available
pre-drilled to suit
most popular routers.
For ease of fitting and
cutter changing, the table
aperture should ideally be
large enough to allow the
router to pass through.
On 6mm MDF or plywood, mark out
a rectangle equal in size to the
mounting plate. Draw a line 12mm in
from the edges of the rectangle and
cut out to form a template. Position
this template on the bench centring it
across the top and square to the
front edge. With a jigsaw cut out the
central portion leaving a 1.5mm gap
to the inside line. Use a bearing
guided straight flute cutter to trim
the edge, whilst following the
template and a 12mm bearing rebate
cutter to form a rebate around the
cut-out equal in depth to the
thickness of the plate. Check that
the plate fits, trimming the edge of
the rebate to form a sliding fit with
no side movement.
Fit the router plate and check that it
is level with the bench surface. If
preferred, cut the rebate slightly
deeper and either apply metal or
plastic shims to the rebate face, or
use adjustable screws as supplied in
Autumn 1998